Stirred Art
Bar tips
Bar tips
Short, practical answers to the questions people ask at the bar.
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Seasonal
Dry January drinks
Zero-proof versions of classics you already know, and three low-ABV drinks made with sherry and vermouth, for a dry or lighter January.
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Hosting
Thanksgiving batch cocktails
How to batch cocktails for Thanksgiving: three drinks you can make before guests arrive, how much water to add, and how many drinks one bottle makes.
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At home
Cocktail glasses
What each cocktail glass is for, and the three pairs people mix up: coupe or martini glass, flute or coupe, rocks glass or highball.
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At home
Ice mistakes
Why a home cocktail goes watery, and how to fix it: one big cube for strong drinks, a glass filled to the top, clear ice, and fresh ice in the glass.
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Technique
A better Martini
Four small changes that make a home Martini taste like a bar's: stir it, keep the vermouth in the fridge, freeze the glass, and squeeze a lemon peel over the top.
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Technique
Shaken or stirred
Shake drinks with juice, cream or egg. Stir drinks made only of spirits. Never shake soda. Here's why, and how long to do each.
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At the bar
What to order
How to order a cocktail you'll like from a menu you've never seen: start from a drink you know, describe the taste, and ask the question bartenders love.
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At the bar
What to say to a bartender
Four things people say to bartenders that don't help, and what to say instead: a flavour, a spirit, or a drink you already like.